Joseph Douglass was a groundbreaking African-American concert violinist and grandson of abolitionist Frederick Douglass

Frederick Douglass

Frederick Douglass was an American social reformer, orator, writer and statesman. After escaping from slavery, he became a leader of the abolitionist movement, gaining note for his dazzling oratory and incisive antislavery writing...

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Early Life and Influence

During the time following the Civil War, many African-American musicians began to break into the art music genre. Joseph Douglass, a concert violinist, was one of the first African-American performers to be nationally and internationally renowned. His influence came at an early age from his father and grandfather, famous abolitionist Frederick Douglass, who were both amateur violin players.

First Big Break

Douglass received his first big break as a concert violinist at the age of 22 when he performed at the World’s Columbian Exposition, also known as the Chicago World’s Fair. On August 25, 1893 performers joined together to celebrate Colored American Day (which Frederick Douglass helped plan). Included in the celebrations were readings of Paul Lawrence Dunbar’s poetry, performances by Sidney Woodward and Deseria Plato. Joseph Douglass also performed at Colored American Day, garnering him a large audience for his talents.

Later life

After his performance at the World's Columbian Exposition, he was very well known. Douglass is credited as the first Black violinist to make transcontinental tours. In the 1890's, he was lauded by the black press as "the most talented violinist of the race" . Douglass toured extensively for three decades, performing in every Black educational institution and America and a significant amount of churches as well. Douglass was also the first violinist- of any race- to make recordings for the Victor Talking Machine Company

Victor Talking Machine Company

The Victor Talking Machine Company was an American corporation, the leading American producer of phonographs and phonograph records and one of the leading phonograph companies in the world at the time. It was headquartered in Camden, New Jersey....

. He made recordings with them in 1914, but they were never released. On top of his performance career, Douglass was an educator and conductor, too. He had tenured positions at Howard University

Howard University

Howard University is a federally chartered, non-profit, private, coeducational, nonsectarian, historically black university located in Washington, D.C., United States...

 and the Colored Music Settlement School

Colored Music Settlement School

The Colored Musical Settlement School was a New York City school established and operated to provide music education for African-American children, who were generally excluded from other music schools....

 in New York throughout his life. He had many students including a young Clarence Cameron White

Clarence Cameron White

Clarence Cameron White was an African American neoromantic composer and concert violinist. Dramatic works by the composer were his best-known, such as the incidental music for the play Tambour and the opera Ouanga. During the first decades of the twentieth century, White was considered the...

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Personal life

Douglass was married to Fannie Howard Douglass. Fannie was a musician as well, often accompanying Joseph's performances on the piano. He and Fannie had two children: Blanche and Frederick III.

External links

• JazzBows: Famous Black Violinists http://www.jazzbows.com/blackviolinlinks.html